The bus is a great time to catch up on your journal, a nap, or French lessons. We stop every few hours at a filling station to use the restroom or purchase snacks. The stations in France are much more elaborate than in the States. You'll not only find a wider variety of foods, but sometimes even cafes and bakeries! It was here that I first saw an automatic coffee dispenser: pop in your Euro coins, select your beverage of choice, and out of the machine comes a little cup piping hot with your drink!
This afternoon we have a floating picnic lunch aboard a canal barge on the Canal du Midi. We tour just a few of the more than 5,000 miles of canals throughout France.
Our Captain is a French-speaking man from Brazil who loves to blast Portuguese music through the speakers. It is quite an interesting experience.
What is even more interesting is the elaborate construction of this particular canal. The water levels are at different heights, so half-way through the trip, our barge must stop at a gate while the water in between the gate and another beyond it, is drained down to our level. Our gate then opens, allowing us to sail in. Once we are in the middle, the gate closes, the water is pumped back in and we slowly rise up to the water level of the second half of the canal.
As we sail we glide past families picnicking (the girls below are ecstatic about waving hello to us), couples jogging, and even people napping. Our picnic lunch is a time of great community. In addition to bonding with each other, we also get to meet locals sailing in the canal with us. Patrick even tries to invite one in for some vin rouge -- "Allez!"
Our Captain is a French-speaking man from Brazil who loves to blast Portuguese music through the speakers. It is quite an interesting experience.
What is even more interesting is the elaborate construction of this particular canal. The water levels are at different heights, so half-way through the trip, our barge must stop at a gate while the water in between the gate and another beyond it, is drained down to our level. Our gate then opens, allowing us to sail in. Once we are in the middle, the gate closes, the water is pumped back in and we slowly rise up to the water level of the second half of the canal.
As we sail we glide past families picnicking (the girls below are ecstatic about waving hello to us), couples jogging, and even people napping. Our picnic lunch is a time of great community. In addition to bonding with each other, we also get to meet locals sailing in the canal with us. Patrick even tries to invite one in for some vin rouge -- "Allez!"
Further south, the urge to stop and take a photo of the imposing Carcassonne in the distance, is too great, so we pull over. What seems like a toy castle far away is actually a mighty fortress and real-life 13th-century castle town, complete with towers, cobblestone alleys, massive walls, cathedrals, drawbridges, and a slew of restaurants and gift shops!
Like Chinon's castle, so much is open for exploration. You are free to climb the ramparts at will... the signs warn of the dangers of, but do not prohibit, such actions. I guess there were no lawyers in the 13th century.
First let's check in to the cute and family-run Hotel Montmorency.
Like Chinon's castle, so much is open for exploration. You are free to climb the ramparts at will... the signs warn of the dangers of, but do not prohibit, such actions. I guess there were no lawyers in the 13th century.
First let's check in to the cute and family-run Hotel Montmorency.